NEW YORK — Jack Flaherty’s performance in Game 5 of the NL Championship Series fell short of expectations, preventing his hometown team from advancing to the World Series and instead sending the series back to California. After a strong showing in the previous game, Flaherty struggled, leading to a significant loss.
In a night where the Mets displayed their hitting prowess, Pete Alonso’s three-run homer in the first inning set the tone for the game. The Dodgers’ pitcher allowed five runs in the third inning, resulting in a 12-6 victory for New York, which narrowed the series lead to 3-2. “I let the game speed up on me in a way I haven’t experienced in a while and failed to adjust like I usually would,” Flaherty explained following the game.
Flaherty’s fastball speed was noticeably lower, dropping 1.9 mph from his season average, while also seeing a significant decrease in the spin rate of both his four-seam fastball and knuckle-curve. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged his struggles, noting that Flaherty had been battling some health issues, which may have affected his performance and pitch velocity. “He wasn’t sharp, clearly,” said Roberts, unsure if Flaherty’s condition influenced his pitching metrics.
Flaherty, who played alongside Max Fried and Lucas Giolito at Harvard-Westlake, was traded to the Dodgers from Detroit on July 30. Despite the disappointing performance, he claimed he didn’t feel any additional frustration regarding his struggles with Los Angeles. Over two months with the Dodgers, he posted a record of 6-2 and a 3.58 ERA. However, he faced setbacks in the earlier Division Series against San Diego, where he allowed homers that contributed to a loss in Game 2.
Having pitched on six days’ rest, Flaherty previously excelled against the Mets, throwing seven scoreless innings with just two hits. However, with only four days of rest leading into Game 5, he faced difficulties and recorded his first outing without a strikeout since September 2022. Flaherty celebrated his 29th birthday on Tuesday by returning to the mound for this crucial game.
Alonso’s home run came on a slider that was barely above the strike zone. In the fifth inning, Starling Marte drove in two runs with a double, followed by an RBI single from Francisco Alvarez. Francisco Lindor further contributed to the scoring with a two-run triple and an additional single, pushing the Mets to an 8-2 lead. “They adapted well, and I didn’t make the necessary adjustments,” Flaherty remarked, reflecting on the challenges of facing a team multiple times within a short period.
